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Multcolib
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Picks:
Justice
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jail
time

Annotation:Clarence Earl Gideon, a semi-literate drifter, is arrested for breaking into a pool hall and stealing $55. Unable to afford a lawyer he tries and fails to defend himself. Using his own sense of justice and the prison library, he changes what it means to get a fair trail.

Annotation:Starting in colonial days before the U.S. we journey though history to modern day prison issues. Here is an engaging look at what changes and what remains the same told with photos, letters and stories of famous prisoners.

Annotation:A Newbery Award winner best known for funny and quirky children and teen books, Jack Gantos took an odd journey to children's lit. As a teenager he is offered a job. But instead of easy money sailing to New York with a boatload of drugs, Gantos ends up in Federal Prison. This is his telling of that time.

Annotation:While on trial as an accomplice to a murder, sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon records his experiences in prison and in the courtroom in the form of a film script as he tries to come to terms with the course his life has taken.

Annotation:"Three strikes and you're out" laws, which effectively impose a 25-years-to-life sentence at the moment of a third felony conviction, have been passed in 26 states. California's version of the "three strikes" law, enacted in 1994, was broader and more severe than measures considered or passed in any other state. Here is an examination of the impact of the law.

Annotation:With a career, a boyfriend, and a loving family, Piper Kerman barely resembles the reckless young woman who delivered a suitcase of drug money ten years before. But that past has caught up with her. Heartbreaking, hilarious, and at times enraging, Kerman's story offers a rare look into the lives of women in prison--why it is we lock so many away and what happens to them when they're there.

Annotation:When Dr. John Snow first traced an outbreak of cholera to a water pump in the Soho district of London in 1854, the field of epidemiology was born. Taking the same concepts and tools of public health - Drucker makes the case that the current unprecedented level of imprisonment has become an epidemic.

Annotation:Most men would do anything to get out of jail, but Michael Scofield will do anything to get in. His brother has been sentenced to die for a crime he didn't commit, and the only way to save him is from the inside out. Please note: Not meant as a How-To guide!

Annotation:No need to limit yourself to only one way of thinking: The Opposing Viewpoints series looks at Mandatory Minimum Sentences. Essays from all sides of the issue by lawyers, legislators and professors.

Annotation:Finding himself "At Her Majesty's Pleasure" British Prisoner Frankie Owens decided to do something useful with his time and experience. The result is The Little Book of Prison, a funny and engaging look at the inside in the form of a helpful how-to guide that hopefully none of us will be needing.

Annotation:Two kids with the same name were born blocks apart in the same decaying city within a few years of each other. One grew up to be a Rhodes Scholar, army officer, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison. Here is the story of two boys and the journey of a generation.

Description

Ever wondered what it's like in prison (but don't want to break the law)? Curious about how well our system really works? What about going to jail in colonial times? Check out these titles and explore from the safety of your library shelves.